1949 Bentley Boattail Speedster

[FlatBroke]

PA41,
This is the place to be. no need to say more.

The good thing about RRR is that even if someone does not like your build at all, 1 of 2 things will happen:

1. certain people won't post on your thread.

2. If someone post on your thread that they don't like what you are doing, they will do it respectfully because they can usually see the time and craftmanship you put into your project.


This is the place to be

 

[kzoldman]

"People like you show that even on the net, the car culture/hobby can be a positive, benificial place for all of us. Thanks."

Well said PA41.

 

[Unkl Ian]

Might give you some ideas: http://www.decorides.com/foosebt.htm [cl

 

[PA41]

Might give you some ideas: http://www.decorides.com/foosebt.htm [cl

Yeah, Those Decorides cars are some of my inspiration pics. Naturally the $9500 for the body kit stalls me some, but the real stopper for me is the small size, and the fiberglass. They are about the size of a 26 T Roadster inside--I have one of those, and its a little cramped. The fiberglass is the thing that I really dont like. I've done 4-5 glass cars, and I can't get that warm and fuzzy feel for them that an old rusty body gives me. Stricktly a 'feelin' kinda thing though--no reasoning in it. The most 'reasonable' car for a guy would be a quality glass body and an SBC powerplant. Thats what I tore apart to use the chassis for on this project. Good thing about hobbies--ya don't have to have good sense.

Heres a pic of one of the Deco cars. I like the rear treatment of the fenders as almost seperate units. I snagged a pic of a restoratrion on a Packard speedster yesterday, and I liked the way they did the same thing--the rear fenders are seperate--almost bolt on items--I think thats what I'll try for on my project. standalone units that I can remove with 4-5 bolts and work on seperate from the car. Also found an idea on an old salt car for a vertical slat grill whos methods I might try to incorporate in my Buick shell. It may have been a Mormon Meteor wannabe from that period. I bought a couple sticks of 1.5"x1/8 strap yesterday to cut up for slats and mount them inside the shell--might have the verticle, more agressive/lakes look I'm after. Gonna be heavy though.. I'll see..

Thanks for the lead--thats kinda sorta where I want to head in a ratty kinda way..

PA41

 

[PA41]

I can't get the picture of glued on plastic horses out of my mind!

Thanks for the comments BW--Yeah the plastic horse thing kinda spooks me too. If I get that bad I'll probably be in a walker or something where I can do the least damage.

I've been researching how people have made bucks for fender construction, and might try that. I'll just need fairly small pieces as I plan to try and create the inner half of the fender, and I already have the front inner half I cut from the back doors of the Bentley. So I'm only talking about 20-30 inches 1/2 fenders for each side. I'v considered just buying an english wheel kit from harbor freight and use the 1/2 shells from a VWs rear as starting points, and just 'adjusting' then with the EW to fit. Heres a pic of buck a guy made and used a shop press to form MC fenders that might work for small pieces I could weld together. Just kinda brainstorming stuff--any suggestions would be appreciated....

I'm mainly all about the process and the build--I don't do too much burger joint hang outs or shows--a few a year. I am getting fond of parades though--especially with the grandkids--2 little girls 3 & 6. I want a rumble seat for them. Give them some memories of crazy Grandpaw and his weird old cars when they are grown ups....

PA41

 

[rustydusty]

Really awesome build by the way! You'll never park next to another one at a car show by the way! Can't wait to see this one finished...

 

[kzoldman]

Looks like a good place to put this link

http://www.slideshare.net/Art37/prewar-cars

 

[Shea Laking]

Looking pretty good, PA. I think you might be right on to put vertical grille bars in. It's a pretty wide looking car, this may help to give thegrill a little visual "height" and make it look more distinctive.[

Diggin' that slideshow of European coachbuilts. They were, truly craftsmen and artists who envisioned and built cars "back in the day."[dr

Keep pluggin away. The world is watching...[P

Regards,
Shea

 

[Flipper_1938]

Looks like a good place to put this link

http://www.slideshare.net/Art37/prewar-cars

That Mercedes 710 is bad ass!

 

[PA41]

Looks like a good place to put this link

http://www.slideshare.net/Art37/prewar-cars

Woah--Thats so cool it hurts!! For someone with a 'fender fetish' it'd be time for some therapy about now!!

Thanks --I've watched the show 4 times already!!

PA41

 

[kzoldman]

Thought that might get your blood pumping PA That Mercedes 710 is one sweet looking car. I also like the Voisin C20 if they would lose the boxes on the side, sand all the paint off and let it rust

 

[hotrod preacher]

a 'fender fetish' PA41

ummmmm.......i was gonna offer to "assist" with a buck-build leading to a rear fender build but i just got past my last fetish (toy plastic horses glued on real cars)

 

[PA41]

Have been doing odds and ends to the project, Got a vacuum brake bleeder and I did a one man--quick N easy job of it. Heres a pic--would recommend it--be sure to use silicon grease around the threads and on the end of the bleeder to get a positive connection.

The tranny-turbo350--was not shifting in D the last time I drove it, just manually--all 3, with good shifts. I checked the vac line and it was leaking--fixed that, and should have fixed the Drive shifting problem. I hope.

Worked on the rear fenders--patched a little rust and trimmed them and cut off and welded the door part to the fender..

Also kinda got sidetracked on the Buick grill. Just taped on an patch in the upper inside corners to get a look--I like it. Also decided to run the side trim line into the Buick nose to tie them together--the tape is the proposed trim line.

PA

 

[PA41]

Ive been thinking about getting tha HF english wheel, or making a little 'learner' EW.

The HF is one is on sale locally for $250--pic. Might be good to learn on.

Doing lots of Utube vids watching E Wheels--good teaching tools.

Any opinions?

PA41

 

[hotrod preacher]

hey PA! thought you was gonna be "outta it" for a day or two, and you're already back at it![cl

i noticed the old roof donor had rear fenders in an old pic--is there any way to use part of those fenders to help make the "insides" of the boattail fenders?

maybe use the left rear buick fender on the right rear of the boattail.......

i say go ahead and get one of those E Wheels though.......i would love to help ya use it

 

[BigIrish]

Hope you get it and tell us what its like to use. I've been thinking about getting one for some future project...

 

[CORPO]

lookin good.. its really taking shape quick...

i have seen some pretty decent english wheels made from large old bearings.. I started building one a while back... i should finish that one of these days

 

[PA41]

Thanks for the comments guys--

I went to HF for one of the english wheels, but all their stock had the small roller missing. I have read reviews on the tool where they claimed the bearings were bad on many, and I guess they robbed the stock to replace bad ones. The large wheel on the floor demo had a bad bearing and the small anvil was gone too..

I did get a small english wheel that fits in a vice with 5-6 anvils that looks alot like the home made one in my last post for $100 though. Its a lot 'lighter duty' , but the quality seemed better. Maybe just something to tinker with. I'll post a pic and a RRR 'product review' after I do something with it.

Also--Got me a 'lunium RACING floor jack Been needing one BAD for my HF racing crew... Those places are BAD for tool junkies--I want EVERYTHING...

The ENT Doc put off my nose surgery for another month to 'run some more tests'.. I think he just wants me to die or go away--meanwhile I'm miserable--..

PA41

 

[PA41]

i noticed the old roof donor had rear fenders in an old pic--is there any way to use part of those fenders to help make the "insides" of the boattail fenders?

maybe use the left rear buick fender on the right rear of the boattail.......

Yeah--thats a good idea HRP --I'll go after them and see if I can use at least parts of them. I need to collect up all my fenders in a pile and study on them as donors.. Usually if I stare at something long enough the problem will fix itself....

Thanks--

PA

 

[DJ3100]

I suspect you will be wasting your $$$ on the HF wheel. The reports I have read say the wheels aren't concentric - some have been reported to be out .010". Also, the tubing is very thin; there are no gussets - the frame isn't strong enough to get any real pressure. The guys on metalshapers.com have beefed up the frame, but they still aren't real happy with the results.

Check out Ron Covell's or Mittler brothers and look at the difference in frames.

Interesting buck fixture on the hydraulic press.
The Bentley is looking great!